IMPORTANT TO MARINERS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 46, 21 January 1843, Page 182

IMPORTANT TO MARINERS.

At 30, p.m., passed over a bank extending in a N.N.W. and S.S.E. direction, about three miles in length and three-quarters of a mile wide, with apparently not more than ten fathoms water on it, in lat. 10 deg. 56 mm. S., long. 130 deg. 14 mm. E. —Extract from the Oeorgiana's Log, August 28th, 1842. Important to Vessels bound to the Eastward of the Cape or Good Hope. —Passed close by the Island of Tristan da Cunha; saw plenty of neat little white cottages, plenty of cattle feeding, and a great deal of cultivation, abundance of potatoes and vegetables, &c, and a fine waterfall, so that water might be filled, with a hose without taking the casks out of the boats. There are about 500 inhabitants on the little island, living in the greatest comfort; and any vessel calling will be sure to meet with a welcome reception from Governor Glass, who has a fine whale-boat. The bay is on the N. W. side of the island; when the peak bears S. E., you are off the houses, and may steer S.E., running amongst the kelp before you let go your anchor, as there is no danger. The island is well laid down. —Log of Captain Sel&iri qfthe Motezuma. SUNKEN HOCK OFF THE CAPE DB VERDS. Bona Vista, Cape de Verds, July 4, 1842. Sir —l have the honour to report, for the information of the underwriters at Lloyds, that the steamer Phoenix, Harrington, bound fr.om Erennoh to the Cape of Good Hope, put.ioto Porto Praia, St. Jago, in great distress, having*touched upon a shoal at the north-east point of this island on the 24th ult., at half-past ten at night: supposed distance from land 22 or 23 miles, and lat. 16 19 N., and long. 22 26 W. It is also supposed to be the Sunbeam shoal, upon which the Charlotte was lost in April, last - year. The Phoenix, at the time of the accident, was under sail without steam, and drew 11 feet forward and 124 feet aft, and the place injured is at the after part of the keel; and there being but little or no swell of the sea, these facts demonstrate that the shoal in question has more than 11 feet water on it. . The Phoenix came here from St. Jago for further repairs and a supply of coals, which has been obtained, and now proceeds to England to make good the damages sustained. Had the Phoenix not been a steamer, she must inevitably have been lost, as the water, before the steam was got up, nearly reached the furnaces. Some fuel, however, being thrown into the fires quickened the action of the steam, and the pumps soon kept the vessel free. As' the existence of this shoal appears to be doubted, I beg to mention that this island is surrounded by coral reefs, more or less, and therefore, although a reef could not be found five or six years since, it can be no reason for doubling the existence of the one in question, as it is well known that coral in some places is very rapid in its growth. As far as lam able to judge ' and learn, I have no doubt in the existence of a sunken reef some considerable distance from the north-east end of this island, and as it lies in the track of vessels bound south, I cannot but believe it to be a subject deserving the immediate attention of the committee of the Lloyds. I have the honour to be, &c. Lloyds Agent. - To Wm. Dobson, Esq., Sec. Lloyds.